Top 10 Heritage Videos of 2012

Ericka Andersen /
December 31, 2012

Videos once again played an important role in 2012 as campaigns, policy organizations and individuals sought ways to break through the saturated media environment with short, clever and informational productions. The following are the 10 most-watched videos from 2012 on Heritage’s YouTube channel. Click here to subscribe.

1. The White House Disinformation Campaign on LibyaOctober 27, 2012
Evidence showed there were security threats in Benghazi, Libya, in the months prior to the deadly September 11, 2012, attack that killed U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans. Despite these threats, the Obama Administration and State Department left its personnel there to fend for themselves.

2. The Real Legacy of Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s Iron LadyJanuary 13, 2012
Like President Ronald Reagan, her political soulmate, Margaret Thatcher came to power at a desperate time in her country’s history, when real leadership and bold ideas were most needed. And by applying conservative principles to the challenges she faced, she was able to achieve real and lasting success. Then, as today, she faced an extraordinary set of challenges and a chorus of voices saying her country’s best days were behind it. Thatcher’s successes are a comforting reminder of the power of a bold, conservative vision at work.

3. The Voting DeadOctober 31, 2012
Voter fraud is one scary issue. And believe it or not, there are dead people on the registration rolls in many states. Heritage’s Hans von Spakovsky, a leading expert on voter ID laws, uncovers the abuse in a new book, “Who’s Counting? How Fraudsters and Bureaucrats Put Your Vote at Risk.”

4. Obamacare at the Supreme CourtMarch 27, 2012
The packed hearing room of the Supreme Court was a who’s who of lawyers and political leaders this morning, all of whom witnessed what was an undeniably bad day for the Obama Administration and its defense of the President’s health care law. Paul Clement and Michael Carvin, attorneys representing those challenging Obamacare, battled Solicitor General Donald Verrelli, who was defending the law, and urged the Supreme Court to find the individual mandate in ObamaCare unconstitutional.

5. America at Risk: Kerry Kachejian on the Importance of Military ReadinessMay 2, 2012
Rebuilding Iraq during the raging insurgency was no easy task. It required ingenuity, courage and innovative ways to get the job done—sometimes with equipment that offered little protection from the car bombs and rocket attacks launched by America’s enemies. Kachejian told his harrowing story in a book called “SUVs Suck In Combat.”

6. President Obama Wants Higher Energy PricesFebruary 23, 2012
During a speech on gas prices the President tried to dodge responsibility for the pain Americans are feeling at the pump. But the President and his Administration have repeatedly stated that they want higher energy prices. They want to use the pressure of higher energy costs as an excuse to force their green energy boondoggle on Americans.

7. America at Risk: Dave Deptula on the Military’s Aging Aviation ForceMay 16, 2012
Dave Deptula, a retired three-star general, has witnessed this “geriatric aviation force” firsthand. He earned his wings and flew an F-15 for the first time in 1977. Thirty years later, another Deptula boarded the aircraft. His son flew the same F-15 at Kadena Air Force Base in Japan.

8. Businessman Faces Backlash After Appearing on Obama’s Enemies ListMay 30, 2012
Frank VanderSloot grew up a poor kid in rural Idaho. His father made $300 a month. His clothes came from the Salvation Army. Yet through determination and hard work—and with the help of America’s free-enterprise system—today he’s the successful CEO of a global supplier of wellness products. VanderSloot said his life changed forever on April 20. That’s when President Obama’s campaign created the first presidential “enemies list” since the Nixon era.

9. Religious Liberty: Obamacare’s First CasualtyFebruary 22, 2012
The controversy over the Obama Administration’s anti-conscience mandate and the fight for religious liberty only serves to highlight the inherent flaws in Obamacare. This conflict is a natural result of the centralization laid out under Obamacare and will only continue until the law is repealed in full.

10. 1,000 Days Without A BudgetJanuary 24, 2012
Today marks the 1,000th day since the United States Senate has passed a budget. While the House has put forth (and passed) its own budget, the Senate has failed to do the same. To help illustrate how extraordinary this failure has been, our new video highlights a few of impressive feats in history that have been accomplished in less time.